CHAPTER 2: HER FIANCE
1594 Words
“HI! I’M sorry if I’m late. The road was blocked off due to road works, and some of the buses couldn’t get through; that’s why I got stuck in traffic,” he explained while putting on her seatbelt.
“It’s okay.”
When he started driving, William suddenly grabbed her left hand and played with her engagement ring with his free hand when he saw a bloodstain on her knuckles.
“Hey! What happened to your knuckles? Why is it bleeding?”
She looked at her hand, and he’s right. Her knuckles were bleeding. Maybe because her punch at the stranger was intensified that it became numb that’s why she didn’t notice or feel the pain right away.
“Oh! Don’t worry, it’s fine. The tool I used earlier at the clinic just slipped,” she said, hoping that her boyfriend would believe her.
“Are you sure? Do you want me to take you to the hospital to have your hand examined?”
She reaches his face. “Hon, I told you, I’m fine. Not everything I ate would come out there,” she joked.
He seriously looked at her. Look that says, he’s not in the mood to joke around.
“Hon, lahat ng gamit ko sa clinic naka-sterilize kaya wala kang dapat na ipag-alala.”
“Okay,” anito saka muling itinuon ang pansin sa daan habang siya ay tahimik na nagdadasal na sana ay mapatawad siya sa pagsisinungaling niya't sa ginawa ng estrangherong lalaki sa paghalik sa kaniya.
She can't lose her fiance. She loves him so much to ruin their three years relationship. He was two years older than her, so he was able to run his family business while she was a dentist.
They met at a party three years ago which both William and his father were invited. Her father asked her to introduce her to his friend’s son, who turned out to be William’s father. Since then, they have been dating all the time. Apart from being responsible and caring, he also gives her what she wants. She comes from a family of doctors; that’s why her father obligated her to marry someone who has a knowledge on running a business.
“HON! You’re spacing out, again. Is there something bothering you?” William asked as they entered a famous restaurant for their food tasting.
Sa susunod na buwan na kasi ang kasal nila kaya kailangan na nilnag madaliin sa food tasting para makahanap na sila ng magke-cater after ng reception.
She shooked her head. “N-nothing! Maybe I'm just tired. We had a lot of patients a while ago with high severe cases compared to mild cases,” she reasoned out.
The truth is, her mind is still occupied by that stranger who stole a kiss from her. After what happened at the Mall, she felt like someone was watching or following them like a paparazzi. But she composes herself. She should act normal in front of her fiance.
When they found a seat, William immediately pulled out a chair for her. And when she sat down, he directly massaged her shoulder. “I told you so many times that don't overdo yourself. Stop abusing yourself to death. We’re getting married one month from now, so you should take care of yourself. I don't want my bride to walk down the aisle looking like a zombie.”
She stopped his hands from massaging her shoulder and looked up at him to give him a tiger look. “So, you're telling me that when I look haggard on our wedding day, you will run away? That you're going to be my runaway groom?
He pinched her left cheek. “Just kidding, hon,” he said as he kissed her cheek.
She smiled. He’s teasing her again.
“Dapat pala hindi na kita dinala rito. Baka maparami ang kain mo hindi na magkasya sa ‘yo ang wedding dress mo,” gatong pa nito.
“Huwag ka ngang OA diyan. Hindi naman nakakataba ang isang kutsarita.” Natawa na lang ito at napailing.
William was about to sit in the opposite chair when he sniffed her neck, making her soul separate from his body.
“Did you just change your perfume?” She was stunned by William’s question.
She simply sniffed herself and almost turned pale when she smelled a strange odor on her clothes. Oh no! She was sure that the different smell from her dress was from the man who had kissed her a while ago. She didn’t expect the man’s scent to mix with the scent of her perfume.
At that moment, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. What to do?
She cleared her throat. “I didn’t change my perfume. The perfume you gave me is still what I use.”
“I know! That’s why I’m asking you because your perfume doesn't smell like that. Now, tell me honestly, why does your perfume mix with a man’s perfume?” he suspiciously asked.
She swallowed hard. “S-so, what are you trying to say? That I’m cheating on you?”
He crossed his arms. “Not until you tell me the truth,” he said without taking his eye off of her.
Her body was shaking not because of the restaurant’s air conditioner but because of nervousness. Her hands were starting to get sweat too. She feels like she’s going to faint any moment.
How will she get through his question?
“Cess! I’m asking you, why does your perfume mix with a man’s perfume?” he asked, using his stern voice that makes her jumped to her seats.
That was the first time she had seen him so furious. She knew that she’s now getting on his nerves because he had already called her by her nickname.
“Hon, relax! Let me explain first, okay?”
He sat in the opposite chair and looked straight into her eyes, waiting for her explanations.
“First of all, I’m not cheating on you. I never thought of doing something that would affect our relationship. I’m with Viodeza earlier at the Mall. I accompanied her to buy some gift for her boyfriend’s birthday–”
“May boyfriend na si Viodeza?” William interrupted.
She nodded. “Yup! So we went to the perfume shop and tested all the tester they had there so, maybe one of the testers splashes to my dress,” she explained, without breaking their eye contact.
But at the back of her mind, she wanted to hurt herself for making and using her assistant as her excuse. It’s her only way to prove herself not guilty. In view of the fact that she doesn’t have to admit anything because it was just an accident. She didn’t even kiss that stranger back.
William remains silent, estimating his self, whether he will believe her or not. She looked down and bit her lower lip to suppress her sob because, at any moment, she will burst into tears.
He took a deep breath then held her hand on the table.“Fine! I believe you! I’m really sorry! Sorry for doubting your love and sorry if I scare you,” he sincerely apologized that makes her burst into tears.
William stood up and hugged her tightly while kissing her head. He comforted her with his sweet words. “Stop crying. I promise you that I will never question your love for me. I will never mistrust you again. I love you! I love you so much, hon.”
She suppressed her sobs upon hearing those words from him. She also hugged him back to his waist while still sitting on her chair.
She’s always like that, weakened whenever he will say those three words and eight letters. Three words, but it takes three seconds to read, three minutes to think, three hours to understand, three days to demonstrate, three weeks to explain, and whole life to prove it.
“I’m sorry! Please, forgive me,” he added.
He dried her tears and looked at her intently. “I love you, hon.”
“I love you too!”
Then they kissed each other without minding the people around them. They just stopped when the food they were going to taste arrived.
“Sorry for the long wait soon to be Mr. And Mrs. Valencia. We’re proud to present to you our best-selling dishes that we can offer on your wedding day,” the head chef announced as he presented their best-selling dishes one by one.
After almost one hour of food tasting, they settled with twelve dishes, five beverages, and three desserts. They also decided to have a Family-Style Dinner because it makes their reception meal feel more casual and laid-back. It is an efficient way also to serve their meal. They don’t have to wait for people to make it through buffet lines or the stations. Everything lands at the table. And also, to make their guests chat and engage with each other.
- Writer
